Archery arrow vane

ABSTRACT

An archery arrow is provided with a vane means including two flight vanes carried by a mounting vane. The mounting vane extends radially from the arrow shaft, and it is mounted with a slight helical spiral to cause rotation of the arrow during flight. The flight vanes are carried by the mounting vane along the edge of the mounting vane opposite the arrow shaft, and each of the flight vanes forms an angle of approximately 60* with the mounting vane. The flight vanes are mounted on the mounting vane so that the spacing between the flight vanes and the arrow shaft increases from the rearward end of the respective flight vane to the forward end of that flight vane.

tates atet Sept. 4, 1973 ARCHERY ARROW VANE OTHER PUBLICATIONS [76] Inventor: z f gggi l ch Archers Bible 1966-1967 page 89.

Primary ExammerAnton O. Oechsle [22] Filed: Nov. 24, 1972 Assistant ExaminerPaul E. Shapiro Attorney-Gerald E. McGlynn Jr. Harold W. 21 A 1. No.: 309 549 1 pp Milton,Jr. et al.

7 RA [52] U.S. Cl. 273/1065 C, 244/324 [5 1 ABST CT 51 Int. (:1 F4lb 5/02 M archery arrow is Provided with a vane means [58] Field 61 Search 273/1065 c, 106.5 R; cluding two flight vanes Carried y a mounting vane- 244 324 325 3.26, 32 323 329, 33 The mounting vane extends radially from the arrow shaft, and it is mounted with a slight helical spiral to 5 References Cited cause rotation of the arrow during flight. The flight UNITED STATES PATENTS vanes are carried by the mounting vane along the edge of the mounting vane opposite the arrow shaft, and tpotheloz at each of the flight vanes forms an angle of approxi- 3015269 1/1962 244/3'3 X mately 60 with the mounting vane. The flight vanes are 3 106 400 10/1963 zwiclteyiiitnu. I 2 73/l06 .5 c mounted the mounting Vane that the spacing 3:113:517 12/1963 Kelley et a|w 244/324 X tween the flight vanes and the arrow shaft increases 3,595,579 7 1971 Benoit 273 1065 c from the rearward n f h e p cti e flight vane to FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS the Ward end that flght 9591 5 1901 Great Britain 273/1065 c Claims, 3 Drawing Figures ll r2 ta a T- ARCHERY ARROW VANE This invention relates to an archery arrow vane arrangement.

Archery arrows drift during flight under the influence of cross-winds. Although prior art arrows are provided with feathers or plastic vanes to stabilize the arrows during flight, there is no compensation for the drift caused by cross-winds.

Archery arrows fletched with feathers typically carry three feathers, and this was the model when smooth surface rigid vanes were first used. Unitary vane constructions were developed to preclude contact with the bow or the archers hand, thus eliminating the adverse effects of such contacts. These smooth surface rigid unitary vanes, like the feathers they replaced, do not provide any drift compensation in cross-winds.

The vane means of the present invention includes two flight or steering vanes and a mounting vane. The mounting vane extends radially from the arrow shaft, and it has a slight helical spiral to rotate the arrow during flight and thus eliminate steering by the flight vanes. The flight Vanes extend from the mounting vane along an axis spaced from the arrow shaft, and the flight vanes are oriented such that they diverge slightly from the arrow shaft to steer the arrow shaft in a given direction when they are not rotating. The spacing between the flight vanes and the arrow shaft increases from the rearward ends of the flight vanes to the forward ends of the flight vanes, and the flight vanes steer the arrow shaft into cross-winds to compensate for the drift associated with such cross-winds as a result of this spacing.

The advance in flight vane design in the present invention resides in the orientation of the flight vanes and their spacing from the arrow shaft. This advance affords drift compensation not available in the prior art.

The instant invention can be best understood by reference to the following description of a preferred embodiment taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a side view of an archery arrow provided with a vane means made according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the archery arrow with vane means attached shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an axial view of the archery arrow and vane means shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Reference should now be made to FIG. 1 wherein an archery arrow generally designated is shown carrying a vane means 12 made in accordance with the present invention. The archery arrow 10 comprises a point or tip 14, a shaft 16, a nocking attachment l8, and the vane means 12. The point 14, the shaft 16, and the nocking attachment 18 can take any of a variety of forms generally known in the art.

The vane means 12 includes a vane mounting means 20 mounted on the shaft 16 at the rearward end thereof adjacent the nocking attachment 18. A first flight vane 22, spaced from the shaft 16 and carried by the vane mounting means 20, is disposed such that the spacing between the first flight vane 22 and the shaft 16 increases from the end of the first flight vane 22 nearest the nocking attachment 18 to the other end of the first flight vane 22. This variation in spacing is illustrated in FIG. 1 where it is seen that the spacing R at the rearward end of the flight vane 22 is less than the spacing F at the forward end of the flight vane 22. A second flight vane 24, also spaced from the shaft 16 and carried by the mounting means 20, is similarly disposed such that it diverges slightly from the shaft 16; the spacing between the second flight vane 24 and the shaft 16 increases from the rearward end of the second flight vane 24 to the other end of the second flight vane 24 in the same way the spacing increases for the first flight vane 22.

The first flight vane 22, the second flight vane 24, and the vane mounting means 20 intersect along a common, substantially linear axis 26. This axis 26 lies in the plane defined by the vane mounting means 20. To obviate contact between the vane means 12 and the bow or the archers hand, the bowstring notch 28 of the hooking attachment 18 is disposed at an acute angle to the vane mounting means 12; this acute angle is approximately 45.

In the illustrated preferred embodiment the vane mounting means 20 comprises a mounting vane mounted with a slight helical spiral from back to front on the shaft 16 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The slight helical spiral is in the direction of a left hand screw thread, and this spiral causes rotation of the arrow during flight to prevent steering by the flight vanes 22 and 24. It should be understood that the spiral of the mounting vane could be reversed such that it would be in the direction of a right hand screw thread.

The mounting vane 20 is secured to the shaft 16 by two planar portions 30 and 32 having an included angle less than and adapted to engage the shaft 16. The height of the mounting vane 20 controls the distance between the shaft 16 and the first and second flight vanes 22 and 24, and this height increases from the rear end of the mounting vane 20 to the front of the mounting vane 20 as shown in FIG. 1. The first flight vane 22 and the second flight vane 24 respectively form angles with the mounting vane 20 of approximately 60.

The vane means 12 is fabricated from two symmetrical plastic members. One of the members comprises the mounting portion 30, the flight vane 24, and one of the confronting portions 20A comprising the laminated mounting vane 20. The other symmetrical member comprises the mounting portion 32, the flight vane 22, and the other confronting portion 208 of the laminated mounting vane 20. The two confronting portions 20A and 20B of the mounting vane 20 are bonded together to form the mounting vane 20.

During flight, the vane means 12 provides a drag force on the archery arrow 10 which stabilizes the arrow flight. In still air, the arrow 10 rotates in the direction of a left hand screw because of the slight helical spiral of the mounting vane 20, thereby eliminating any steering by the flight vanes 22 and 24. In a crosswind, the spiral is ineffective to.cause rotation because the flight vanes 22 and 24 catch cross-winds to turn the arrow 10 so that the shaft 16 is up-wind of the flight vanes 22 and 24. Accordingly the flight vanes 22 and 24 compensate for cross-winds by steering the arrow 10 into the wind as a result of the wind forcing the flight vanes 22 and 24 down wind from the point 14. The flight vanes 22 and 24 are designed, by selection of the angle between the flight vanes 22 and 24 and the arrow shaft, to automatically steer the arrow 10 into the wind to compensate for cross-winds. If the cross-wind subsides, the mounting vane 20 is again effective to rotate the arrow 10 and eliminate steering by the flight vanes 22 and 24.

Although the foregoing has proceeded in terms of a particular preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications could be engrafted thereon by one skilled in the art within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In an archery arrow including a shaft having a forward end and a rearward end, means mounted on said shaft adjacent said rearward end for mounting a vane, and a first flight vane spaced from said shaft and mounted to said vane mounting means, the improvement wherein said first flight vane is mounted to said vane mounting means with the spacing between said first flight vane and said shaft increasing from the end of said first flight vane nearest the rearward end of said shaft to the end of said first flight vane farthest from the rearward end of said shaft.

2. An archery arrow as in claim 1, including a second flight vane spaced from said shaft and carried by said vane mounting means, said second flight vane being mounted to said vane mounting means with the spacing between said second flight vane and said shaft increasing from the end of said second flight vane nearest the rearward end of said shaft to the end of said second flight vane farthest from the rearward end of said shaft.

3. An archery arrow as in claim 2, wherein said first flight vane and said second flight vane intersect along a common, substantially linear axis.

4. An archery arrow as in claim 3, including a notch for a bowstring at the rearward end thereof disposed at an acute angle to said vane mounting means.

5. An archery arrow as in claim 4, wherein said acute angle is approximately 45.

6. An archery arrow as in claim 2, wherein said vane mounting means comprises a mounting vane.

7. An archery arrow as in claim 6, wherein said mounting vane spirals from back to front on said shaft in the direction of a left hand screw thread.

8. An archery arrow as in claim 7, wherein the height of said mounting vane controls the spacing between said first and second flight vanes and said shaft, and wherein the height of said mounting vane increases from the end of said mounting vane nearest the rearward end of said shaft to the end of said mounting vane farthest from the rearward end of said shaft.

9. An archery arrow as in claim 8, wherein said mounting vane is mounted on said shaft by two planar portions having an included angle than 180 engaging said shaft and connected to said mounting vane.

10. An archery arrow as in claim 9, including two symmetrical members having first confronting planar portions bonded together to form said mounting vane, second planar portions having an included angle less than 180 connected to said mounting vane and engaging said shaft to mount said mounting vane thereon, and third planar portions carried by and extending from said mounting vane to form respectively said first flight vane and said second flight vane.

11. An archery arrow as in claim 10, wherein said first flight vane and said second flight vane respectively form angles with said mounting vane.

12. An archery arrow as in claim 11, wherein each of said angles is approximately 60.

13. An archery arrow as in claim 12, including a notch for a bowstring at the rearward end thereof disposed at an acute angle to said mounting vane.

14. An archery arrow as in claim 13, wherein said acute angle is approximately 45.

15. In a vane means for an archery arrow including means for mounting a vane, said means having a forward end and a rearward end adapted to be correspondingly mounted on said archery arrow by a mounting portion of said vane mounting means and a first flight vane carried by said vane mounting means, the improvement wherein said first flight vane is mounted said vane mounting means with the spacing between said first flight vane and said mounting portion of said vane mounting means increasing from the rearward end of said vane mounting means to the forward end of said vane mounting means.

16. A vane means as in claim 15, including a second flight vane carried by said vane mounting means, said second flight vane being disposed on said vane mounting means with the spacing between said second flight vane and said mounting portion of said vane mounting means increasing from the rearward end of said vane mounting means to the forward end of said vane mounting means. I

17. A vane mounting means as in claim 16, wherein said first flight vane and said second flight vane intersect along a common, substantially linear axis.

18. A vane means as in claim 17, wherein said vane mounting means comprises a mounting vane.

19. A vane means as in claim 18, wherein the height of said mounting vane controls the amount of spacing between said first and second flight vanes and said mounting portion of said mounting vane, and wherein the height of said mounting vane increases from the rearward end thereof to the forward end thereof.

20. A vane means as in claim 19, wherein said mounting portion of said mounting vane comprises two planar portions having an included angle less than adapted to engage the shaft of said archery arrow.

21. A vane means as in claim 20, comprising two symmetrical members having first confronting planar portions bonded together to form said mounting vane, second planar portions having an included angle less than 180 to form said mounting portion of said mounting vane, and third planar portions carried by said mounting vane to form said first and second flight vanes.

22. A vane means as in claim 20, wherein said first flight vane and second flight vane respectively form angles with said mounting vane.

23. A vane means as in claim 22, wherein each of said angles is approximately 60. 

1. In an archery arrow including a shaft having a forward end and a rearward end, means mounted on said shaft adjacent said rearward end for mounting a vane, and a first flight vane spaced from said shaft and mounted to said vane mounting means, the improvement wherein said first flight vane is mounted to said vane mounting means with the spacing between said first flight vane and said shaft increasing from the end of said first flight vane nearest the rearward end of said shaft to the end of said first flight vane farthest from the rearward end of said shaft.
 2. An archery arrow as in claim 1, including a second flight vane spaced from said shaft and carried by said vane mounting means, said second flight vane being mounted to said vane mounting means with the spacing between said second flight vane and said shaft increasing from the end of said second flight vane nearest the rearward end of said shaft to the end of said second flight vane farthest from the rearward end of said shaft.
 3. An archery arrow as in claim 2, wherein said first flight vane and said second flight vane intersect along a common, substantially linear axis.
 4. An archery arrow as in claim 3, including a notch for a bowstring at the rearward end thereof disposed at an acute angle to said vane mounting means.
 5. An archery arrow as in claim 4, wherein said acute angle is approximately 45*.
 6. An archery arrow as in claim 2, wherein said vane mounting means comprises a mounting vane.
 7. An archery arrow as in claim 6, wherein said mounting vane spirals from back to front on said shaft in the direction of a left hand screw thread.
 8. An archery arrow as in claim 7, wherein the height of said mounting vane controls the spacing between said first and second flight vanes and said shaft, and wherein the height of said mounting vane increases from the end of said mounting vane nearest the rearward end of said shaft to the end of said mounting vane farthest from the rearward end of said shaft.
 9. An archery arrow as in claim 8, wherein said mounting vane is mounted on said shaft by two planar portions having an included angle than 180* engaging said shaft and connected to said mounting vane.
 10. An archery arrow as in claim 9, including two symmetrical members having first confronting planar portions bonded together to form said mounting vane, second planar portions having an included angle less than 180* connected to said mounting vane and engaging said shaft to mount said mounting vane thereon, and third planar portions carried by and extending from said mounting vane to form respectively said first flight vane and said second flight vane.
 11. An archery arrow as in claim 10, wherein said first flight vane and said second flight vane respectively form angles with said mounting vane.
 12. An archery arrow as in claim 11, wherein each of said angles is approximately 60*.
 13. An archery arrow as in claim 12, including a notch for a bowstring at the rearward end thereof disposed at an acute angle to said mounting vane.
 14. An archery arrow as in claim 13, wherein said acute angle is approximately 45*.
 15. In a vane means for an archery arrow including means for mounting a vane, said means having a forward end and a rearward end adapted to be correspondingly mounted on said archery arrow by a mounting portion of said vane mounting means and a first flight vane carried by said vane mounting means, the improvement wherein said first flight vane is mounted said vane mounting means with the spacing between said first flight vane and said mounting portion of said vane mounting means increasing from the rearward end of said vane mounting means to the forward end of said vane mounting means.
 16. A vane means as in claim 15, including a second flight vane carried by said vane mounting means, said second flight vane being disposed on said vane mounting means with the spacing between said second flight vane and said mounting portion of said vane mounting means increasing from the rearward end of said vane mounting means to the forward end of said vane mounting means.
 17. A vane mounting means as in claim 16, wherein said first flight vane and said second flight vane intersect along a common, substantially linear axis.
 18. A vane means as in claim 17, wherein said vane mounting means comprises a mounting vane.
 19. A vane means as in claim 18, wherein the height of said mounting vane controls the amount of spacing between said first and second flight vanes and said mounting portion of said mounting vane, and wherein the height of said mounting vane increases from the rearward end thereof to the forward end thereof.
 20. A vane means as in claim 19, wherein said mounting portion of said mounting vane comprises two planar portions having an included angle less than 180* adapted to engage the shaft of said archery arrow.
 21. A vane means as in claim 20, comprising two symmetrical members having first confronting planar portions bonded together to form said mounting vane, second planar portions having an included angle less than 180* to form said mounting portion of said mounting vane, and third planar portions carried by said mounting vane to form said first and second flight vanes.
 22. A vane means as in claim 20, wherein said first flight vane and second flight vane respectively form angles with said mounting vane.
 23. A vane means as in claim 22, wherein each of said angles is approximately 60*. 